U19s beat Kenya in warm-up match

The Canadian U19s pit up an excellent all-round performance to beat Kenya by eight wickets in their first of two warm-up matches in New Zealand, prior to the start of the U19 World Cup. They bowled out Kenya for 169, five bowlers sharing the wickets, and then knocked off the runs in just 32.1 overs, lead by an unbeaten 78 from Ravi Sandhu.

Kenya won the toss and batted. Canada’s opening bowlers Faisal Jamkhandi and Rishiv Joshi got Canada off to a great start, reducing Kenya to 22/3 in the 8th over. The fourth wicket fell to the spin of Pretorius – 45/4 in the 17th over. Desai and Bhudia put on 43 before Aran Pathmanathan had Bhudia caught – 88/5 after 31.2. Desai was caught from captain Arslan Khan’s bowling for 40, and with 10 overs to go Kenya were 112/6. Three run outs saw Kenya all out for 160 in the final over. Canada used eight bowlers in all, and all performed well,

In reply, Canada got off to a quick start thanks to Emanuel Khokar, hitting a four and a six in the first two overs but he was caught for 23 with the score on 39. Sandhu and Arslan Khan put on 62 before the captain was dismissed for 30. Akash Gill and Sandhu took Canada to an easy win. Sandhu made 78 from 102 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Canada play their final warm-up match against Ireland on January 11. Ireland played England today, losing by 130 runs despite a century from their captain Harry Tector.